Author: PamelaJo

The 2019 Annual Convention of the Florida Bar was held in Boca Raton on June 26-29. It was great to attend the convention and get reacquainted with many of my colleagues, particularly those from UF Law. I had the pleasure of attending the executive council meetings of both the Environmental and Land Use Law Section and the Appellate Practice Section.

I am very happy to be once again serving on the executive council of the Environmental and Land Use Law Section, and particularly happy to be chairing the Treatise Committee.

Congratulations to my clients who are working to start a new business in Plant City, Florida. At a public hearing on Monday the City Commission voted unanimously to approve my clients’ request for a Future Land Use Map amendment. Now on to the rezoning process…

Looking forward to attending the Public Interest Environmental Conference at UF Law February 7-9 this year. I participated in this conference as a law student and have attended most years since. This great event is planned and managed by law students and their faculty. They do amazing work each year. This year’s conference topic is “Our Future: Embracing the Anthropocene.” This topic will prove to be an enlightening and educational look at our rapidly changing Earth. More here: https://ufpiec.org/

Imagine what 3D printing houses could do to revolutionize the construction industry! If this is perfected and starts to catch on, there are going to be huge disruptions in terms of construction costs, materials, affordable housing, and jobs. There is a darn cool video of the process at work here:  https://3dprint.com/214758/3d-build-systems-robot-3d-printer/

 

Ever heard of LEED building design standards? Of course you have! LEED is an acronym for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” and it is the US Green Building Council (USGBC) rating system to indicate the level of a building’s sustainable design and environmental performance. New buildings can be constructed to LEED standards, and existing buildings can be renovated to meet those standards. Several buildings in Tampa’s downtown have become LEED certified after-the-fact.

But have you heard of WELL community design standards? Maybe not? While LEED standards indicate the level of a building’s design standards and performance in terms of environmental sustainability, WELL standards indicate community design standards in terms of human health and wellness. The WELL standards evaluate community design in terms air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.

And if you have never heard of WELL community design standards, you will soon have an opportunity to see for yourself what a WELL community is. The Water Street development underway in Tampa’s downtown is designed to WELL standards that focus on air and water quality, natural light, and pedestrian-friendly spaces that encourage human interaction. This community will be the world’s first WELL Certified city district. Development is expected to be completed by 2021. What exciting news for Tampa!

Well this is just too cool. 3D printed home construction is coming to our very own Sarasota County later this year. 3D Build Systems LLC will employ a robot to construct homes using cement or other building materials. The process will take 24 to 36 hours to build a home, yielding three to five structures in one week. The 3D printed homes will meet Florida building code requirements for each specified hazard region. 3D Build Systems states its mission is “To help change the economic landscape by creating opportunities, spurring economic growth and providing a better life for the people who live and work in our community.” Indeed, this is exciting technology that can help meet the need for more affordable housing in Florida and throughout the US.